by Winepisser | May 1, 2023 | Full Article
2022 was a weird year for Winepisser and providing consistent reviews. First, those of us in Peru were still reeling from the pandemic, which wasn’t quite over yet. Next, I started the year off at great stride, reviewing a lot of wines in short time, and then...
by Winepisser | Jul 21, 2022 | Quick Review
These kids and their fancy shoes and ironic t-shirts. If this is an experiment to show the overlooked Yecla region of Spain can produce good wines, it’s a success. Nose is oak, smoke and black pepper, but tongue adds light black cherry. Tannins are smooth,...
by Winepisser | Jul 18, 2022 | Quick Review
Lick that melon baller. Great sweet wine, but not oversweet. Proper balance of sugar and acidity, with a touch of fizz. To be clear, this is sweet but not like an icewine or Tokaji. Notes of baked apple, lots of melon, some spices. Very well done. Insanely low alcohol...
by Winepisser | Jul 16, 2022 | Quick Review
Baa is worse than the bite. I think this winery is trying too hard. Between its name (“Dead Fly”) and this wine’s label (“Sheep in Wolf’s Clothing”), we get it: they’re edgy. Too bad the wine isn’t great. This is a bit...
by Winepisser | Jul 15, 2022 | Quick Review
Someone is reselling the Methodist communion bottles. I’m assuming this is 2022. The wines don’t have vintages, but the label does have a batch date code. Sweet as usual, and if you approach it that way, it’s fine. Main flavor note is white grape...
by Winepisser | Jul 13, 2022 | Quick Review
Wait, WTF? Bought this in a South American supermarket for the equivalent of about $4. The buy was supposed to be a joke, as I assumed the wine would be terrible. It’s not. Surprising balance, smooth tannins, and nice finish. Notes are graphite, black cherry....
by Winepisser | Jul 11, 2022 | Quick Review
Que kawaii! This is a review of the regular Chenin Blanc label (not the “semi-seco” one). Bright green apple but not over acidic, makes it very drinkable. Less sugar than earlier years suggests the producer struggles with consistency. But given that it...
by Winepisser | Jul 8, 2022 | Quick Review
Kid you picked last in kickball managed to score a few points after all. Improved Sauvignon Blanc from a middling producer. Acidic so it’s tart, but enough hints of slate, green apple and traditional SB notes to make it pleasant.
by Winepisser | Jul 5, 2022 | Quick Review
Don Quixote but a High School version. Standard fare tempranillo from Spain, notes of black cherry with very (very) mild oak. A bit too acidic, shaving off a bit of score. Pair with food, because it’s a bit severe by itself.
by Winepisser | Jul 4, 2022 | Quick Review
Daddy’s speeding. “Dandy Dad” is more like “drunk dad” with that whopping 14.5% alcohol level. Cork was almost starting to go on this bottle, but I opened it in time and the wine was still OK. Nose was corrupted a bit, but taste notes...
by Winepisser | Jul 1, 2022 | Quick Review
Judge this book by the cover. Proving yet again Los Intocables are untouchable, this cab is fire. Lacking just a bit compared to the Black Malbec, it’s great anyway. Black cherry and oodles of bourbon flavored oak. Label isn’t lying.
by Winepisser | Jun 30, 2022 | Quick Review
All your base are belong to Arequipa. Very good Malbec proves Arequipa Peru is to be reckoned with. Nose is earthy and this follows through to the palate, where dark fruit like blackberry really explodes. This wine is not shy, and you can feel the 13% alcohol. Drinks...
by Winepisser | Jun 28, 2022 | Quick Review
Rare grape Listán Negra is used here, called “Mollar” in Peru. Nose is banana and vanilla. On the palate, it’s an initial touch of banana giving way to persimmons and tamarind. Very dry and maybe too much so, as the flavors are certainly unique, but...
by Winepisser | Jun 26, 2022 | Quick Review
Ocean spray this, pal. Surprise hit from Arequipa Peru, with this Malbec rosé. Long-form review here.
by Winepisser | Jun 26, 2022 | Full Article
My next entry in the Peruvian Wine Journey is a pink Malbec rosé, the Paz-Soldán Conde de la Conquista Selecta “Ana Maria” 2021. This one comes from Arequipa, Peru’s second-largest city. The Region Arequipa is a region to watch. Whereas other...
by Winepisser | Jun 25, 2022 | Quick Review
Lawrence of Arabia, but less racist. Shockingly good white blend from the Ica Valley, which is inhospitable to the grape no matter what people say. A weird blend of Moscatel de Alejandría, Torontel and Albilla, and it really works. Lavender nose follows through to the...
by Winepisser | Jun 18, 2022 | Quick Review
Someone forgot to clean the barn. Peruvian wine from Tacna, subject of long-form review here. Was tainted with Brettanomyces, ruining the wine. Extra point added for good presentation, labeling, mouthfeel, balanced acid, and tannins. But there’s no getting...
by Winepisser | Jun 18, 2022 | Full Article
How Finca Maravilla is making wine in one of the driest places on the planet, Tacna Peru, is curious to be sure. Thanks to water running off the Andes via the Río Uchusuma, Tacna has some patches of green along the river’s edges, but not much else. It’s a...
by Winepisser | Jun 17, 2022 | Quick Review
Burn the witch, but let her finish that batch first. Astonishing malbec, probably made in a lab — a “labmec?” I’m not sure what witchcraft is at work here, but I suspect it required many newt tails. Color is as dark as Cthulhu’s soul,...
by Winepisser | Jun 17, 2022 | Full Article
As a US immigrant living in Peru, it took a long time to get used to living in a very different society, under a very different culture. Related to wine, I’ve been complaining nonstop for about ten years over the state of the wine industry here. Peruvians’...
by Winepisser | Jun 16, 2022 | Quick Review
War of the gargantuas turns into slap-fight – part 2. Nose is a bit dull, the main flavor note here is black cherry but with a licorice kick. Paired OK with fish, of all things. Read full head-to-head against other Syrah here.
by Winepisser | Jun 16, 2022 | Quick Review
War of the gargantuas turns into slap-fight – part 1. The nose was very flat, with some earth notes and blackcurrant, but just barely. On the palate, more blackcurrant came through, along with some spices and black pepper. Improved slightly with pairing. Read...
by Winepisser | Jun 16, 2022 | Full Article
I hit a local wine shop that I thought would have a good selection — they call themselves a “gourmet” food and wine joint — only to find it was awash in the usual selection of Chileno and Argentino reds, mostly malbecs. This is the life in...
by Winepisser | May 24, 2022 | Quick Review
This museum needs a tour guide. Slightly jammy nose after serving through Venturi. Some graphite in there as well. Once swigged, it’s a fairly well-balanced wine, but just lacking in depth. Maybe still too tannic? Flavor notes are anise, black cherry and pepper....
by Winepisser | May 22, 2022 | Quick Review
Wait, you passed your SATs with flying colors? Complete surprise proving the parts don’t total up to the sum. I feel the Syrah here, but only if I squint. Otherwise not like a typical Petit Syrah nor a Petit Verdot. Nose is black pepper. On the palate,...
